What was the best Italian fighter

[Piaggio108]

This is my attempt to include all major italian fighters in a poll, withount them all the poll doesn't mean much. I just copied them out of a book to keep from overlooking any.

[Lightning Guy]

I voted for the MC. 205. I believe it was the fastest of all the Italian types to see service and carried a very respectable armament of 2 20mm and 2 12.7mm weapons.

[Piaggio108]

Lightning guy, your vote doesn't seem to have registered.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i don't thing C.C. would be very pleased with that poll....................

[GermansRGeniuses]

I go with G.55! Two 12.7mm mgs and 3 20mm Hispano cannon.

Also, it was a Mustang killer. (But it was slower and obviously had less range) Better dogfighter and such.

[Lightning Guy]

That's probably because I filled out my post but forgot to vote . . .

[kiwimac]

Reggiane Re 2005

kiwimac

[kiwimac]

Engine
One 1,475 hp Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston.

Dimensions:
Span: 36 ft 1 in / 11 m.
Length: 28 ft 7 3/4 in / 8.73 m.
Height: 10 ft 4 in / 3.15 m.
Wing area: 219.58 sq ft / 20.4 m2.

Weights:
Empty: 5,732 lb / 2,600 kg.
Maximum: 7,960 lb / 3,610 kg.

Max speed:
6,560 ft / 2,000 m: 421 mph / 678 kph
13,120 ft / 4,000 m: 351 mph / 565 kph
22,800 ft / 6,950 m: 421 mph / 678 kph
22,965 ft / 7,000 m: 421 mph / 678 kph

Cruise speed: 320 mph / 515 kph

climb rate: Time to
6,560 ft / 2,000 m: 1 min 55 sec
13,120 ft / 4,000 m: 4 min 28 sec
19,685 ft / 6,000 m: 5 min

Service ceiling: 37,730 ft / 11,500 m
Range: 609 miles / 980 km.

Crew one

Armament:
Two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns with 350 rounds each in upper engine cowling.
One 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannon with 150 rounds firing through propellor hub.

Two 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannon with 200 rounds each in wings.
Up to 2,200 lb / 1,000 kg bomb or fuel tank under fuselage.

Two wing hardpoints for 353 lb / 160 kg of bombs or fuel tanks.

Source: http://www.aldini.it/re2005/performances.htm

Kiwimac

[Lightning Guy]

I've not seen speed figures that high for any fighter. That 70mph decrease at 4,000m followed by a sudden increase of 70mph makes me a little bit skeptical though.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

any pictures of it.................

[kiwimac]

Yup, its the plane in my sig

Kiwimac

[kiwimac]

Please also note the following about the Reggiane RE 2005

From http://www.comandosupremo.com/Re2005.html

The last model in the series was the excellent Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer). The wings were improved and enlarged, with new landing gear and heavy armament of 3 20mm cannon and 2 12.7mm machine guns. The first prototype was ready in December 1941, but lacked the engine for 4 months from Germany (the Daimler Benz inline). The first flight was on 5/9/42 , after the MC.205 and G.55 had both flown. The Re.2005 was fast and maneuverable and used the Fiat 1,475 hp inline license built version of the Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. Maximum speed was 391 mph, a service ceiling of 40,000 ft and a range of 786 miles. However, only 29 were built.

The Re.2005's operational career began in May 1943 with the 362nd Squadriglia and used to defend Sicily and Italy against Allied bombers until 8/26/43. After the armistice, the Germans seized 13 and used them to defend the Romanian oil fields.

Specifications

Model Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario

Max Speed 678 Km/h

Ceiling 12,000 m
Range 1,250 km

Horsepower 1,475 hp

Wingspan 11 m
Crew 1

Length 8.73m
Height 3.15m
Weight 2,600 Kg

Max Weight 3,610 Kg

Engine Fiat RA.1050 RC 58 Tifone (license-built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1) V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston

Armament Two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns with 350 rounds each in upper engine cowling. One 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannon with 150 rounds firing through propellor hub. Two 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannon with 200 rounds each in wings. Up to 2,200 lb / 1,000 kg bomb or fuel tank under fuselage. Two wing hardpoints for 353 lb / 160 kg of bombs or fuel tanks.

Article by JDG

Sources:
Enzo Angelucci & Paolo Matricardi, World War II Airplanes (2 vol.), Rand McNally, 1978.
Hans Werner Neulen, In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe, 1939-45, Crowood Press, 2000.
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of WWII, Military Press, 1989.
Chris Bishop (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Barnes & Noble, 1998.
Bill Gunston, Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Motorbooks, 2000.
K. G. Munson, Enemy Aircraft (German and Italian) of World War II, Ian Allen, 1960.
Jonathon Thompson, Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-45, Aero, 1960.
William Green, Warplanes of the Second World War (10 vol.), Doubleday, 1960-68.
Giorgio Apostolo, Reggiane Re 2001, La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1996.
John Brindley, Caproni Regianne Re 2001 Falco II, Re 2002 Ariete & Re 2005 Sagittaro, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1973.
Nico Sgarlato, Italian Aircraft of World War II, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1979.
Gianni Cattaneo, The Regianne 2000, Doubleday, 1970.

Also note the following from http://www.aldini.it/re2005/history.htm



The blurb along with the picture says the following

This picture reports the test flight made by Com.De Prato, who tested the Re 2005 at a speed of 980 kph, without any problem.

(for those outside the the Metric-using world, 980 km/h = 607 mph, probably in a dive)

Kiwimac

[kiwimac]

Shots of the Cockpit

Left side view of the cockpit.Throttle and engines controls.In italian airplanes the throttle control woked in a different manner from usual;to increase power you had to pull the control.

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Right side view of the cockpit.Electrical panel.

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Flight controls and Instruments.

Kiwimac

[GermansRGeniuses]

KIWI!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!
NOW WE CAN GET SOME BASTARDS TO TRY AND WORK ON THIS CRAZY MACHINE FOR IL-2!!!!
Their biggest problem is ALWAYS cockpit references! You have cured this!

[Lightning Guy]

The pictures are great.